Fraternity Blog

In the course of looking through some of the older issues of the Magazine, I came across this letter from Hannah Fitch Shaw, whose birthday we recognize today, in the March 1914 issue. I thought I would share some of her thoughts, which still apply today.

"There lies before me a goodly pile of letters and telegrams from North, South, East and West all bearing cheery messages of congratulations on our forty-fourth birthday. Each one carries its own personality and reveals to me two things; appreciation of what was done long ago, and - best of all - the ever widening influence for good that is being exerted by Kappa Alpha Theta.

"It is a great satisfaction to know that the same high ideals that meant so much to us in the beginning have been sacredly cherished and have proved so helpful in building a great fraternity ....

"That girls could have a secret fraternity was thought impossible and absurd. Our handsome badge was dubbed a 'kite' and the opposition to coeducation furnished a favoring gale for a well made kite, a line of study held it aloft and after awhile as the line grew longer the kite rose higher and appeared smaller.

"We were called Thetas always. The Greek-letter Theta is some times known as unlucky because it begins 'thanatos' and was used to pass sentence on prisoners.

"Theta's mission seems to have been to pass sentence on some of the common prejudices against coeducation, for at that time it was considered at best a doubtful experiment.

"First it was a claim that the course was too heavy for young women and the danger would be to health; next that there was a great danger of lowering the standard; and worst of all, that if neither of these calamities occurred the young women would acquire a distaste for home life.

"All these questions have been settled years ago, for health did not suffer, the standard was not lowered, honors were received, and thousands of college-bred women have found their widest influence in the home.

"That we are proud of the record made by our fraternity is shown by our willingness to have our daughters become members for we want only the best for them, and is further shown by the alumnae chapters that keep in touch with the work of the whole."

Hannah goes on to recount a visit to "western Thetas" in California and Colorado, mentioning the Omega/UC Berkeley house because of "all admiration for the genius of our Theta architect, Julia Morgan, for such a complete, convenient, and artistic home." She concludes her letter, discussing the announcement of the establishment of Alpha Tau at the University of Cincinnati, a school not far from her home in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and attending its installation. She concludes her letter:

"May Alpha Tau find a field of usefulness and ever grow and prosper."

Alpha Tau did grow and prosper, and will celebrate its centennial in 2013.

With few surviving original letters of our founders, Hannah's printed letter reminds us of the spirit in which Kappa Alpha Theta was founded and continues to "grow and prosper."

Noraleen Young, Alpha Chi/Purdue, is staff archivist at Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity and is a charter Life Loyal member.

Members of Alpha Tau Chapter after the tour at Fraternity headquarters.

Headquarters had more visitors this weekend! More than 100 collegiate women from Alpha Tau/Cincinnati showed up, by busload (see group photo), from a sisterhood retreat and senior celebration at nearby Bradford Woods. The retreat consisted of senior recognition activities, including letters from parents and "little sisters," a fun video, and senior gifts made by the chapter members.

They all loved the opportunity to recognize and honor the senior members for their contribution to Alpha Tau over the last four years.

The next morning, the women, eager to see Fraternity headquarters, were hosted by a few staff members who gave tours to small groups. The collegians enjoyed seeing old Alpha Tau pictures and documents, pulled from the archives, and loved that two of their sisters are featured on the most recent Theta Foundation publication.

We always love hosting visitors at Fraternity headquarters. Did you know that every initiated Theta (more than 200,000!) has a piece of her Theta history stored at HQ? We'd love for you to see yours.

Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity. What started as a single college chapter at Indiana Asbury
has blossomed into a network of more than 140 college chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups, and
a network of sisters the world over. A membership that large and spread-out COULD make keeping
connected difficult, but actually, it's never been easier.

Through the Fraternity blog, Theta staff and officers will share with you the goods: the fun, exciting news that makes our Fraternity so great.

We want you to share your views and news, too. If you find a post interesting or have something
to say, leave a comment for us. We're listening!

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